Bet On NHL Hockey Colorado Avalanche Season Preview
He Colorado Avalanche recognized a need to make some wholesale changes in the offseason.
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They did so by focusing on their defense after finishing last year with yielding an NHL-worst 287 goals against.
COLORADO AVALANCHE
Odds to Win the Northwest Division: +2500
Odds to Win the Stanley Cup: 65/1
Last season: 30-44-8, 68 points (4th place Northwest, 14th place West)
Additions: Semyon Varlamov, G; Jan Hejda, D; Jean-Sebastien Giguere, G; Chuck Kobasew, RW; Shane O’Brien, D; Joakim Lindstrom, C
Departures: John-Michael Liles, D; Brian Elliott, G; Peter Budaj, G; Tomas Fleischmann, C/W; Philippe Dupuis, C; Adam Foote, D
Youngsters to Keep an Eye On: Gabriel Landeskog, LW; Duncan Siemens, D; Stefan Elliott, D; Tyson Barrie, D; Cameron Gaunce, D; Joey Hishon, C; Jonas Holos, D; Calvin Pickard, G
The Avalanche didn’t have a whole lot of success in the offensive zone either finishing 18th in the NHL with 221 goals scored. Unlike the defense, hopes are that the offense rights itself with the return of a good, young nucleus and the long overdue health of one of their top young talents.
Colorado’s offense was sadly lacking the scoring touch of Peter Mueller, who missed all of last season with concussion problems. His return is crucial if the Avalanche hope to compete for a Western Conference playoff berth this upcoming season. Matt Duchesne returns and is one of the more electric young starts in the NHL – too bad he is mired in the obscurity of playing in Colorado. The Avs also drafted Gabriel Landeskog who could step in right away and help what has been an underwhelming offense for quite some time. The rest of the forward jobs will likely be up for grabs in camp. Chuck Kobasew was brought in but the onus lies mostly on young, unheralded players. The Avalanche are in rebuilding mode and nowhere is that more evident than at the forward position. [ad-4437448]
Colorado needed to get bigger and better in the defensive zone, obviously. They shipped out both their starting goaltenders from last season and have brought in Semyon Varlamov and Jean-Sebastien Giguere to hopefully improve their brutal goaltending. Jan Hejda and Shane O’Brien were brought in for depth and grit and join Erik Johnson, Ryan O’Byrne and Kyle Quincey as players that will almost certainly make the roster. This group is big (all at least 6-foot-2) and they are somewhat talented. If nothing else, the Colorado Avalanche are going to be a tough team to play against!
Betting Prediction: The Colorado Avalanche clearly had little faith in the personnel that took to the ice last season and rightfully so. This team was essentially blown up at the end of last season and during the summer – the Rebuild is in full swing. With that, we can expect some growing pains along the way. The forwards are good, but the depth certainly is not where it needs to be. The defense is improved but outside of Erik Johnson, it lacks the finesse that is essential in order to be competitive. The goaltending, although OK is not going to steal many games. It all adds up to yet another sorry, lost season for the loyal fans in Colorado. Expect the Avs to battle the Edmonton Oilers for last place in the Northwest and for them to finish out of the playoffs again!
Fearless Forecast: Colorado Avalanche finish 4th in the Northwest – out of the playoffs yet again.
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